8 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



flower shows of the past season. The Flower Committee have, how- 

 ever, made mention of one plant of great interest, a chrysanthemum 

 in flower, exhibited by one of our most successful cultivators. 

 This flower, of large size, white, and of the incurved Japanese 

 type, is conspicuously hairy on the outer surface of the petals. 

 The effect of this quite unique peculiarity is very striking, and, so 

 far as can be ascertained, has not before been noticed in chrysan- 

 themums which have been exhibited either here or in Europe. 

 As this plant was one of a collection recently received from 

 Japan, it is probable that the still comparatively unknown flower 

 gardens of that country contain other varieties of this attractive 

 flower worthy of introduction. 



The award of the Society's Gold Medal to Mr. H. H. Hunnewell 

 for his rhododendrons — a collection unsurpassed on this side of 

 the Atlantic — should not pass without comment on this occasion, 

 both on account of the fact that this, the highest prize of the 

 Society has been rarely bestowed, and because it has never been 

 awarded to a nobler friend of horticulture and of the best interests 

 of this association. Need I add that with it go the love and 

 respect of every member of the Massachusetts Horticultural 

 Society. 



By direction of the Society, a petition was presented early in 

 the year to the City Council of Boston, asking that permission be 

 granted to the Society to erect upon a portion of the Public Gar- 

 den a building adapted to our public exhibitions, for the preser- 

 vation and convenient use of our valuable library, and for our 

 meetings. Inasmuch as the Society proposed to admit the peo- 

 ple of Boston freely to all our own privileges, excepting only the 

 responsibilit}'^ for the care of our property, it seemed entirely 

 reasonable that a location should be granted on these public lands, 

 which appeared, moreover, to have been specifically devoted, by 

 proper legal authority, to horticultural purposes. 



Our petition had the hearty approval of the leading newspapers 

 of the city and was reinforced by petitions signed by a large 

 number of the most prominent residents. The law officers of the 

 cit}', however, advised the committee of the City Council having 

 the subject under consideration, that the proposed use of the 

 public grounds did not come within the provisions of the statute 

 establishing the Public Garden. The plan was accordingly 

 abandoned. 



